Volume 79

These articles
were prepared
by the
University of
Western Sydney
Media Unit

Many organisations have policies beyond those required by law to ensure women receive a fair go in the workplace. The tertiary education sector in particular regularly outperforms other industries on many key social performance indicators.

But how can you tell if the systems in place at organisations really are working and helping women achieve their goals? By talking to the women who work there. Three women, at various stages of their careers, working in the University of Western Sydney’s College of Health and Science have spoken about their life experiences.

UWS stands apart from many of its peers because it really has become an employer of choice for women.

The organisation is filled with women at all levels – almost 60 per cent of staff are female – but it also has women in key positions including the Vice Chancellor, a Deputy Vice Chancellor, a Pro Vice Chancellor, the Chief Operating Officer, two Executive Deans and Heads of School.

For those at the beginning of their careers, all 15 of the Indigenous Trainees employed by UWS are women. They will gain valuable work experience and training to improve their future employment prospects.

UWS has positive policies for women which match or better those on offer at other universities in Australia – flexible work arrangements, on campus childcare, 26 weeks paid maternity / return to work leave, six days paid personal leave in addition to the usual sick leave provisions and actively enforced anti-bullying and harassment policies.

UWS also supports women beyond the campus fence through the annual “Women of the West Award” which recognises the outstanding contributions women make to the community of Greater Western Sydney.

The University has won a Federal Government Employer of Choice for Women award every year since the program began.

UWS is definitely not a boys club nor indeed is it a women’s club. An inclusive tone is set from the top.

Executive Dean of the College of Health

and Science, Professor Beryl Hesketh believes recognising each staff member as a unique individual is the key to the University’s appeal to women.

“There is no typical female UWS staff member. We have a very diverse workplace with people at different stages of their careers and pursuing different goals,” said Professor Hesketh.

“UWS doesn’t just encourage tolerance, it actively embraces diversity.”

However, merit and performance are still paramount.

“I believe appointing women - and men - based on skill and ability is essential to creating a workplace filled with role models who inspire everyone to excel,” she said.

“We must all aspire to help create a workplace where women can fulfil their ambitions free of discrimination and hindrance.”

“Given everyday I meet amazing women conducting world-class research and at the top of the teaching profession at UWS, I know we’re well on the path to reaching this goal,” said Professor Hesketh.

Associate Professor Shelley Burgin
Associate Dean (Research), College of Health and Science, University of Western Sydney

Shelley Burgin was a mature aged student when she first enrolled in an undergraduate Environmental Science degree at Griffith University. It was the 70’s and Shelley was a passionate environmentalist, wife and mother who never dreamed of a career in academia.

“In those days, I was one of the era of women who were expected to stay home. My family shared the perception that I was studying to fill-in my spare time. My interest in the environment and conservation was considered a hobby rather than a career opportunity,” she said.

As you fast-forward through time, Shelley’s career has many high points. As the ever dutiful wife, she followed her husband’s career to Papua New Guinea where she undertook a Masters in Biology as part of the IUCN’s project to support crocodile farming in the country. Returning to Australia, Shelley completed a PhD in evolutionary genetics at Macquarie University while working as an academic, and at the conclusion of the PhD she was hired as the first female lecturer in Science at the newly created University of Western Sydney on the Hawkesbury Campus.

Situated in Richmond in the Hawkesbury River Valley north-west of Sydney, the UWS Hawkesbury Campus is in the unique position of being an agricultural region dually surrounded by highly urbanised areas and the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park. Still an environmentalist at heart, being based in the Hawkesbury region offered quite a diversity of wildlife and ecosystems and, as a new institution, UWS offered many, varied opportunities.

“There is always a push for scientists to have specific specialisations. However, throughout my career I have been fortunate to spread my wings in many areas and have achieved expertise in many areas including biodiversity, conservation ecology, ecosystems management, herpetology and total catchment management,” she said.

At present Associate Professor Burgin is Associate Dean (Research) of the University’s College of Health and Science and Provost of the Hawkesbury Campus. As Associate Dean (Research), Shelley oversees all of the University’s science and engineering related research and as Provost she is considered to be the public face of the Hawkesbury Campus.

“Throughout my career, particularly in the area of Herpetology which has always been male-dominated, I have witnessed first-hand the changes in perception toward female scientists,” said Shelley.

“Now, I am fortunate to be working in an institution that prides itself on equality and offers many opportunities to women to work at a senior executive level.”

Senior Lecturer in Population Health, School of Medicine University of Western Sydney

Dr Hilary Bambrick certainly has her work cut out for her at the University of Western Sydney. As Senior Lecturer in Population Health at the University’s recently established School of Medicine, Hilary’s role involves the development of a brand new curriculum for the first cohorts of UWS medical students and the establishment of a community placement program that will allow students to get practical training. When she’s not guiding and mentoring western Sydney’s next generation of doctors, Hilary takes a leading role in several UWS research projects that are sure to have an important impact on Australian health policies.

One such research project is investigating community attitudes to remunerated blood and organ donations. She is also involved in projects that assess the health impacts of climate change and the social and environmental factors that facilitate healthy ageing

In speaking to Hilary Bambrick, one is instantly convinced of her passion for her craft – but she wasn’t always so sure.

As a young, wide-eyed student of Australian National University, Hilary Bambrick tried her hand at a few courses and was struggling to find her perfect fit. She dabbled in psychology and political science, but it wasn’t until a friend suggested anthropology that Hilary became truly inspired.

Hilary spent 13 years at ANU, beginning with a combined Arts/Science degree, studying biological anthropology as an Honours student; completing a PhD research project on Indigenous diabetes; working for a year in a rural Indigenous community; and then securing a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH).

Finally, in 2007, Hilary made her debut at UWS.

Although it is hard work, it is so rewarding to see the School develop and grow, and to be a part of something that is sure to be instrumental in the future health of the region,” she said.

“It wasn’t until I accepted my position at UWS that I realised the female figurehead of the organisation is Professor Janice Reid – someone who I have looked up to admired throughout my career for her work in the area of Indigenous health.

“I have never felt that being a woman has hindered my career in any way. This is most likely due to the fact that I have always worked within Universities – which are generally very supportive of women and offer great opportunities and flexibility.

“I am very privileged to be working at UWS and would strongly encourage any woman to turn their love of science into an academic career.”

Very few could claim they endeavour to design life-saving cancer drugs for a living, but Associate Professor Janice Aldrich-Wright at the UWS School of Biomedical and Health Sciences can.

Janice has quite an impressive list of achievements that span her twenty-year career at UWS. She attributes her success in her chosen profession to the many strong, talented women that have gone before her and helped pave her way to success.

Originally starting out teaching undergraduate chemistry at the former Nepean College of Advanced Education, now known as the UWS Penrith campus, before moving to the UWS Campbelltown campus, Janice went on to complete a PhD while teaching. She did this while also juggling the responsibilities of two children both under the age of five.

Her hard work and effort paid off when she received the 1993 Cornforth Medal Presented by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) for the Best Australian PhD Thesis in Chemistry, for her PhD thesis entitled ‘Processes in Some Metal Chelate Systems of Biological Interest’.

According to Janice, the great thing about UWS is the high number of talented women sprinkled throughout all the areas of research.

“There are a great number of female colleagues and successful women at the university that I look upon as role models and aspire to be like,” said Janice.

“In the last ten years, women have become more senior in the field of science and I am glad to be part of a university that encourages equality in every aspect of learning and teaching.”